Land Trust Alliance. Gathering Waters Wisconsin s Land Trust Retreat. Blue Harbor Resort. March 10, 2016

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1 Land Trust Alliance Gathering Waters Wisconsin s Land Trust Retreat Blue Harbor Resort March 10, 2016

2 Introductions Mark Ackelson Past Chair Elizabeth Ward Communications Director (202)

3 Introductions MaryKay O Donnell Midwest Conservation Manager (269) mkodonnell@lta.org Bryan David Government Relations Specialist (202) bdavid@lta.org

4 Introducing Andrew Bowman Andrew joined the Alliance as President on February 10 Previously program director for the environment at Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Committed to improving the relevance, rate, resilience and rigor of land conservation in America Learn more about Andrew at introducing-andrew-bowman

5 Introducing Andrew Bowman See the video at

6 Community You and Our Friends Doing Important Work 1100 national members 170 Midwest members 31 Wisconsin members

7 Celebrating Together

8 We Did It Victory at Last! Enhanced Tax Incentive signed into law December 18, 2015 Retroactive to January 1, 2015 Permanent Handout -download brochure at taxonomy/term/121

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11 Conservation Defense Network

12 Conservation Defense Network Risk Management Planning Services Free affiliate membership with the Nonprofit Risk Management Center An information hub for conservation defense issues 531 members in network TLC: Conservation Defense Clearinghouse

13 March 2016 First Three Years Conservation Defense Liability Insurance for Land Trusts

14 Since 2011: Terrafirma is owned and operated by your land trust and the other 493 insured land trusts. Provides Risk Management Guidance Insures the costs of upholding conservation easements and fee lands when they have been violated or are under legal attack

15 Terrafirma Risk Retention Group LLC Service to Land Trusts is guiding principle Covers both conservation easements and preserves Defends and enforces conservation rights

16 The Promise of Permanence 493 member land trusts enrolled in Terrafirma insurance program 48 states + DC 26,274 parcels of conserved land insured - 23,273 easements, 2,846 fee land parcels enrolled (+ trail/access easements) 90+% of Alliance members conservation easements are enrolled (including large national organizations capable of self-insuring)

17 Current Claims March 1, 2013 to January 25, total claims 1 in 4 insured land trusts had a claim 166 claims by 128 land trusts or 26%

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20 New this year: 40% fewer questions Online dashboard comparing key metrics from your land trust s 2015/ 2010/ 2005 Census data Community conservation tell us a story of your land trust s community impact in words and photos Sample dashboard used with permission of Genesee Land Trust (NY)

21 Excellence Implementing Standards & Practices 342 Accredited Land Trusts Nationwide 77% of conserved land 36 Accredited Land Trusts in Midwest 9 Renewal of Accreditation (5 yrs.)*

22 Excellence Implementing Standards & Practices 11 Accredited in Wisconsin: Bayfield Regional Conservancy Caledonia Conservancy Ice Age Trail Alliance Kettle Moraine Land Trust Kinnickinnic River Land Trust* Mississippi Valley Conservancy Natural Heritage Land Trust Northwoods Land Trust Ozaukee Washington Land Trust Tall Pines Conservancy West Wisconsin Land Trust 3 More to be Accredited Soon: Door County Land Trust Driftless Area Land Conservancy Northeast Wisconsin Land Trust

23 2017 Applications First Time Round 1 Round 2 Pre-application Due January 24 June 21 Application Due April 13 September 21 First-time registration opens May 2016 Renewal Round 1 Round 2 Pre-application Due April 4 September 12 Application Due June 6 November 16

24 Accreditation Guidance Upcoming Commission Webinars: Voices of Experience (First-Time) April pm CT 2016 Requirements Manual Revisions May pm CT

25 Trainings / Webinars Alliance Webinar 2016 Calendar Handout: Midwest Ask-an-Expert Calls Invest an hour with your colleagues Rally 2016 Minneapolis!

26 Trainings / Webinars Alliance Webinar 2016 Calendar Midwest Ask-an-Expert Calls Sign up by sending an to midwest@lta.org 11:00-12:00 Central (12:00-1:00 Eastern) Friday, March signed up (~50-80)

27 Midwest Ask-an-Expert Calls Tentative 2016 Schedule MARCH 18 Universal Access Trails: Fun for Everyone (Larry Knutson) MAY 6 Innovative Outdoor Recreation Programs (Chris Bunch, Zak Branigan) JUNE 3 Planned Giving (Mary J. Foley)

28 Midwest Ask-an-Expert Calls Tentative 2016 Schedule AUG 5 The Spiritual Value of Land Conservation SEP 9 Completing and Updating Baseline Documentation Reports OCT 7 Doing Performance Reviews the Right Way (Sarah Naperala)

29 Renew, Connect, Together Registration opens June 3 at alliancerally.org Be There: October Minneapolis Scholarships for Chicagoland Land Trusts Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation

30 Standards and Practices Revisions... Up next!

31 Land Trust Standards and Practices Revisions Process Update Wisconsin Land Trust Retreat March 10, 2016

32 Jargon S&P = Standards and Practices SAT Standards Advisory Team

33 Outline of Today s Session Goals of the Revisions Process Overview of S&P revisions process Approach and use of S&P discussion draft Land trust community participation process

34 Tomorrow s Session High-level feedback on the S&P discussion draft Breakfast tomorrow 7:15-8:15 morning in Salon B-C

35 Goals of Revisions Process Encourage all land trusts to use Standards as a foundation for their work. Engage all land trusts with work of pursuing excellence and continuous improvement Make the Standards more accessible

36 Goals of Revisions Process Update to reflect changes in legal and operational environment Ensure alignment with accreditation, Terrafirma and other resources and tools

37 Process Overview Roles of various stakeholders Land Trust Alliance Land Trust Accreditation Commission Standards Advisory Team Greater land trust community

38 Process Overview Work completed to date Where we are in the process... it s your turn!

39 Projected Timing 2015 Winter 2016 Spring-summer 2016 Fall 2016 February or June 2017 Tasks Board approval of final plan Announce process Preparation of S&P discussion draft Standards Advisory Team starts its work S&P discussion draft released for high-level feedback Preparation for spring dialogues Community participation process In-person Online Synthesis of results More public input, if necessary Final draft prepared Board approval of revised Standards and Practices! Implementation phase begins

40 S&P Discussion Draft 12-standard framework is essentially sound More readable and streamlined document Focus on practices that apply broadly to land trust community Improve clarity, reduce redundancy Organize the practices into elements Designed as online resource Clearly highlight those items that lead to accreditation Link to Alliance resources, narratives and requirements

41 New Framework! Current approach 5B. Accountability to Donors. The land trust is accountable to its donors and provides written acknowledgement of gifts as required by law, ensures that donor funds are used as specified, keeps accurate records, honors donor privacy concerns and advises donors to seek independent legal and financial advice for substantial gifts. Fresh approach B. Accountability to Donors 1. Provide accurate and truthful solicitation materials and other communications to donors and the public 2. Classify all funds as unrestricted, temporarily restricted or permanently restricted as identified in written communications with, or as directed in writing by, the donor 3. Provide timely written acknowledgment of all gifts, including land and conservation easements, as required by law 4. Comply with the donor s written restrictions for all gifts 5. Have a written policy or procedure to ensure donor privacy concerns are honored

42 Community Input Process Runs through September 15 Land trusts can provide input in three ways In person at spring conferences and other sessions Online for detailed comments on each practice via Ethelo platform Via at Call or SAT members

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44 Questions?

45 Breakfast Discussion: Salon B/C 7:15 Friday

46 Preparation Discussion Draft Focus on Concepts and the Land Trust Community What are your highest priorities for discussion?

47 Preparation: What is the single biggest challenge you are facing where the Standards need to provide clearer guidance?

48 Thank You!